Enersol Pool Panel Installation Guide
13 |
P a g e
SYSTEM DESIGN
CONSIDERATIONS
a)
Line Set
: in this guide
“line set” refers to
the piping system carrying the water to and
from
the
solar
panels.
Typically
recommended values for water velocity on
pipe are between 6 and 8 feet per second
(fps) on the suction lines and 8 to 10 fps on
the return lines. In order to properly size
line set diameters you need to know the
flow rate of the system to ensure not
exceeding max velocity. Always check with
local regulations to ensure compliance.
Failure to properly size line set diameters
will cause early deterioration of the piping.
The table below shows the water flows in
different pipe sizes with the corresponding
velocities.
Pipe Size
Velocity
6 fps
8 fps
10 fps
1-1/2"
35 gpm
50 gpm
62 gpm
2"
62 gpm
85 gpm
105 gpm
2-1/2"
90 gpm
120 gpm
150 gpm
3"
140 gpm
187 gpm
230 gpm
Line set length also has a negative effect on
losses; the longer the pipe the higher the
losses. A very large line set (more than 100
feet) will create additional losses to the solar
system, which can be translated into higher
operating pressures. When using large runs
of pipe is recommended to increase the pipe
diameter to minimize the losses. If losses
exceed the operating pressure for the panels
it may create leaks.
Table below illustrates the pressure loss on PSI for
every 100 feet of pipes of different diameters.
Losses (PSI) per 100 ft
GPM
1.5" DIA
2" DIA
30
3.16
0.79
60
10.97
2.75
90
22.88
5.7
b)
Panel Array Size:
every component on a
hydraulic system creates resistance or
friction losses, pool solar panels do not
escape this reality; care must be taken when
determining the size of the pool panel array
(especially on large pool systems) not to
exceed the panel capacity. Use the table
below as a guideline when determining the
panel array sizes.
Panel Size
Number of Boxes / Array
4’ x 8’
7 - 9
4’ x 10’
6 - 8
4’ x 12’
5 - 7
Custom size
Consult with EnerWorks
When the pool is too large and requires
more panels than the number recommended
on table above, the array must be split into
two or more parallel arrays of equal size
interconnected
using
reverse
return
techniques.
Failure to properly size solar panel
array
may
result
in
panel
over
pressurization and/or failure
For detailed information on pressure losses for
the Enersol solar panels please see Appendix 1.
a)
Flow rate:
flow rate is usually measured in
gallons per minute (GPM) and is determined
by analyzing the pump size, total losses from
the hydraulic system, and turnover rate
required.
Adequate flow rate will ensure
proper sanitation, even heat and chemical
distribution in the pool. When installing a
pool collector system on an existing pool,
care must be taken not to interfere with the
original system characteristics. Always follow
the recommendations in this guide to avoid
issues.
When retro-fitting an already designed pool with
solar panels with an oversized pump, a ball valve
can be installed between the 3-port valve that diverts
the flow to the solar panels and the panels and be
used as regulator valve to ensure proper flow
through the solar panels.
